Rob Markoff
PFG, Picture Framing God
Before I step up on my soap box, let me preface this thread with how it came about. Last month I had the privilege of attending (for the fourth year) the Advisory Committee meetings at the PMAI headquarters in Jackson, MI. PMAI is the "parent" organization that PPFA affiliated with several years ago.
Every year, a group of framers and suppliers who comprise the "Advisory Committee" are asked to come to Jackson for two days of intensive round table discussions on the past, present and future of the PPFA, with an emphasis on how PPFA and PMAI can make the organization better serve the needs of its members and the picture framing/imaging industry as a whole. Grumble fans should know that Mr. Peter Ackerman from United Mfrs., was/is an active participant, as is Wizard International.
I am pleased to report that once again I come away from these meetings so thankful that PPFA did affiliate with PMAI and what an incredible, dedicated group of people we have in our volunteer/elected officers and especially with the PMAI staff. I am also pleased to see a sincere commitment to have the leadership of the PPFA and its committees better reflect the gender make up of it membership. (Meaning that while a majority of the members and framers are WOMEN, in the past, they were not represented in the make up of officers and committee members). I see a genuine effort to right this oversight.
The affiliation continues to be the best thing that I can remember happening to PPFA since my initial involvement in 1971. There are resources and capabilities we could not even dream of and the data gathering and analytical power that PMAI offers to PPFA is overwhelming.
It is the understanding and channeling of that capability that has taken several years of meetings to absorb, but I really think we have a handle on it now and I can assure you that GREAT things are coming. (We really did not know how good we have it and what we could really do).
OK, now the really interesting part.......
At one of the sessions, Dr. Glenn Omura, a professor from the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University met with us. If you did not attend the PPFA/PMAI conference and hear Dr. Omura's speech on the "Future of the Photo Imaging Industry" you missed one of the best reasons to attend the PPFA/PMAI convention - to hear/meet people like Dr. Omura.
Dr. Omura was hired by the PMAI many years ago to forecast the future of the Photo Imaging Industry. He was responsible for bringing the good news/bad news info to the membership of PMAI YEARS AGO that if you were paper and film based in your business, that you needed to consider the move/capitalization to digital imaging because a significant portion of your revenue source is going to go away.
Members of PMAI who heard his message got YEARS of warning before the digital revolution swept in and those who made changes in their business are still here today. Those who were slow to react....well many are not around and those who are must have another income stream because they are not making a living developing film and making prints.
Dr. Omura was at our meetings to see if there was interest in commissioning a similar study for the framing industry. Dr. Omura suggested that we look into what the "typical" picture being framed would be in the next five years. I was a bit surprised when several of the committee members balked at the notion that anything would significantly change, citing the biggest technological advancement in framing was probably the CMC and perhaps POS and Imaging software and they were already invented and in use.
Dr. Omura stated that perhaps the relevance/need of having anything framed might go away (or be significantly reduced)...so if there is nothing (or less) to frame, what will we all be doing?
His notion is that the "Gates" house is really closer than we may realize. The cost of a 42" plasma display is now around $1100. In five years, it will probably be $500, about 1/4" to 1/2" thick, receive wireless signals and only require a power source, come with decorative framing possibilities (Panasonic is already doing it with conventional plasmas). So, instead of having a piece of art, the display will show anything you want it to- a changing slide show of family portraits/photos, any masterpiece from a museum, "digital artwork" created specifically for plasma display, etc.
And, if the current cost of something nicely framed that size is $500 - 700, what would stop a person of means to have several of these in their homes INSTEAD of framed pictures?
The implications go further. Now, when a family goes to a photographer, they can leave with a "file" that contains their sitting, but instead of sitting in front of a back drop (another photo related industry) they will sit in front of a green screen and can be superimposed in front of ANYTHING, anywhere. There will not necessarily be a need to ever "print" a picture because it will be displayed on your cell phone (instead of carrying a picture in your wallet) on your monitor as wallpaper, and on some display(s) in a home that negate the need for matting, glazing, and I daresay framing. DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES ARE HERE! The packaging for the image would entail something to hold a CD, or it may even be sent electronically, eliminating that aspect all together. Think of the downsizing impact on many, many industries.
Think this is far fetched? Here is what motivated me to take the time to write this....
Yesterday I was in the home of a client that has museum class art. We hang and care for his collection, uncrating new pieces, moving things around and the occasional framing job of his family photos and awards, etc.
He made most of his billions as the founder of a cell phone technology company that has naming rights to our football stadium. But I digress.....
As we were installing a new piece of art (digital output 48" x 105" mounted to aluminum and then reverse mounted to acrylic.) (no frame
),, he and I were discussing Dr. Omura's theory. This client has been to Bill Gate's home several times and is well aware of the technology. So much in fact that he showed me two areas in a hallway where I had previously framed and installed family photos (portraits) that had to be updated as a new grandchild arrived, or another family milestone had occurred.
He said he was looking at doing away with all of the framed portraits in favor of flat panel displays, recessed into the wall that would have either a changing display of all family photos (he was having everything (photo and film/tape) they ever had scanned and archived on a huge array of hard drives) for the ability to put up/change whatever he wanted. And, while money is no object for this person, he did not want to continue to spend money framing things that could just be switched out on a display.
I am not here to argue the merits/drawbacks of his thought process, just to make you aware that five years is not too far off, and to continue making a living at the "status quo" may not be feasible for many of us. And it is a trickle down (up?) If the need for framing decreases, the need for framing suppliers decreases as does their need for things to supply.........
So, I strongly proposed that the PPFA avail themselves of the valuable resource in Dr. Omura and I am grateful that I am a member of an association that has the foresight to conduct such a study as well as the resources to do so.
If you are not a PPFA member, or think there is nothing in the association for your benefit, I urge you reconsider and to become/maintain your membership and to GET INVOLVED.
Every year, a group of framers and suppliers who comprise the "Advisory Committee" are asked to come to Jackson for two days of intensive round table discussions on the past, present and future of the PPFA, with an emphasis on how PPFA and PMAI can make the organization better serve the needs of its members and the picture framing/imaging industry as a whole. Grumble fans should know that Mr. Peter Ackerman from United Mfrs., was/is an active participant, as is Wizard International.
I am pleased to report that once again I come away from these meetings so thankful that PPFA did affiliate with PMAI and what an incredible, dedicated group of people we have in our volunteer/elected officers and especially with the PMAI staff. I am also pleased to see a sincere commitment to have the leadership of the PPFA and its committees better reflect the gender make up of it membership. (Meaning that while a majority of the members and framers are WOMEN, in the past, they were not represented in the make up of officers and committee members). I see a genuine effort to right this oversight.
The affiliation continues to be the best thing that I can remember happening to PPFA since my initial involvement in 1971. There are resources and capabilities we could not even dream of and the data gathering and analytical power that PMAI offers to PPFA is overwhelming.
It is the understanding and channeling of that capability that has taken several years of meetings to absorb, but I really think we have a handle on it now and I can assure you that GREAT things are coming. (We really did not know how good we have it and what we could really do).
OK, now the really interesting part.......
At one of the sessions, Dr. Glenn Omura, a professor from the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University met with us. If you did not attend the PPFA/PMAI conference and hear Dr. Omura's speech on the "Future of the Photo Imaging Industry" you missed one of the best reasons to attend the PPFA/PMAI convention - to hear/meet people like Dr. Omura.
Dr. Omura was hired by the PMAI many years ago to forecast the future of the Photo Imaging Industry. He was responsible for bringing the good news/bad news info to the membership of PMAI YEARS AGO that if you were paper and film based in your business, that you needed to consider the move/capitalization to digital imaging because a significant portion of your revenue source is going to go away.
Members of PMAI who heard his message got YEARS of warning before the digital revolution swept in and those who made changes in their business are still here today. Those who were slow to react....well many are not around and those who are must have another income stream because they are not making a living developing film and making prints.
Dr. Omura was at our meetings to see if there was interest in commissioning a similar study for the framing industry. Dr. Omura suggested that we look into what the "typical" picture being framed would be in the next five years. I was a bit surprised when several of the committee members balked at the notion that anything would significantly change, citing the biggest technological advancement in framing was probably the CMC and perhaps POS and Imaging software and they were already invented and in use.
Dr. Omura stated that perhaps the relevance/need of having anything framed might go away (or be significantly reduced)...so if there is nothing (or less) to frame, what will we all be doing?
His notion is that the "Gates" house is really closer than we may realize. The cost of a 42" plasma display is now around $1100. In five years, it will probably be $500, about 1/4" to 1/2" thick, receive wireless signals and only require a power source, come with decorative framing possibilities (Panasonic is already doing it with conventional plasmas). So, instead of having a piece of art, the display will show anything you want it to- a changing slide show of family portraits/photos, any masterpiece from a museum, "digital artwork" created specifically for plasma display, etc.
And, if the current cost of something nicely framed that size is $500 - 700, what would stop a person of means to have several of these in their homes INSTEAD of framed pictures?
The implications go further. Now, when a family goes to a photographer, they can leave with a "file" that contains their sitting, but instead of sitting in front of a back drop (another photo related industry) they will sit in front of a green screen and can be superimposed in front of ANYTHING, anywhere. There will not necessarily be a need to ever "print" a picture because it will be displayed on your cell phone (instead of carrying a picture in your wallet) on your monitor as wallpaper, and on some display(s) in a home that negate the need for matting, glazing, and I daresay framing. DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES ARE HERE! The packaging for the image would entail something to hold a CD, or it may even be sent electronically, eliminating that aspect all together. Think of the downsizing impact on many, many industries.
Think this is far fetched? Here is what motivated me to take the time to write this....
Yesterday I was in the home of a client that has museum class art. We hang and care for his collection, uncrating new pieces, moving things around and the occasional framing job of his family photos and awards, etc.
He made most of his billions as the founder of a cell phone technology company that has naming rights to our football stadium. But I digress.....
As we were installing a new piece of art (digital output 48" x 105" mounted to aluminum and then reverse mounted to acrylic.) (no frame

He said he was looking at doing away with all of the framed portraits in favor of flat panel displays, recessed into the wall that would have either a changing display of all family photos (he was having everything (photo and film/tape) they ever had scanned and archived on a huge array of hard drives) for the ability to put up/change whatever he wanted. And, while money is no object for this person, he did not want to continue to spend money framing things that could just be switched out on a display.
I am not here to argue the merits/drawbacks of his thought process, just to make you aware that five years is not too far off, and to continue making a living at the "status quo" may not be feasible for many of us. And it is a trickle down (up?) If the need for framing decreases, the need for framing suppliers decreases as does their need for things to supply.........
So, I strongly proposed that the PPFA avail themselves of the valuable resource in Dr. Omura and I am grateful that I am a member of an association that has the foresight to conduct such a study as well as the resources to do so.
If you are not a PPFA member, or think there is nothing in the association for your benefit, I urge you reconsider and to become/maintain your membership and to GET INVOLVED.